Happy Monday, friends! We recently chatted with creative designer Natalie of Natalie Hands Studio, who is a Portland-based designer that plants trees with each project she books! We were so inspired by her story that we did a little interview with her over on our green living website, eco club, that you can read here. Now she’s back with her top tips for going green as a solopreneur, and we thought that might be particular helpful for our friends here at TBM. Read Natalie’s first 5 tips below, then head over to eco club for the second half of this feature!
Ditch the Coffee Shop and DIY That Latte
No line, no pants, no waste, no problem. Avoid the wasteful cup, lid, and straw by whipping up your own delicious coffee or tea drinks at home. Not only will you skip out on some waste, but you’ll skip out on the bill too! I love to make my own cold brew at home by letting 1 cup of ground coffee and 4 cups of water sit together in the fridge overnight. Just strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer and sip away!
Pro tip: Use those coffee grounds for a DIY energizing body scrub! Mix the leftover grounds with coconut oil to desired consistency and let the spa day begin.
Opt for Digital Mock-Ups Instead of Printing All the Things
If you’re a creative of any sort, this one’s for you. You’ve probably seen the gush-worthing photos other creatives share of their work printed on pages and all perfectly laid out. These looks are amazing, but they are also easily doable without printing all that unnecessary paper! Instead of printing your works for that one-and-done shoot, make your presentation photos in Photoshop.
Advertise Digitally
It’s 2019! If you aren’t already advertising digitally, get it together! Choose digital advertising methods instead of print ones. Instead of mailing postcards, build that email list. Instead of ads in the paper, put ads on your local news source’s website. It’s great to have a “paper trail” in your biz – unless it’s your advertising.
Source Locally and Choose Eco-Friendly
I know, I know. Some things just have to be printed. When you can support local businesses. When you can’t, choose eco-friendly choices. Because I’m on the move so much, I decided to get my own business cards printed with Moo. They offer business cards made from recycled cotton t-shirts! When working with clients, do some research and try to source locally for them too.
Turn Off or Unplug Your Tech
When you’re done for the day, turn off or unplug your tech. If you’re not comfortable powering it off, just put it in sleep mode. You’ll conserve energy and save some money on that electric bill!
Ready for 5 more tips? See how to go green as a solopreneur here!
Photo by Charity Hestead Kubena